AITA for giving my son his own hotel room but making my daughter share with a cousin she doesn’t know?

A 30-year-old mom is gearing up for a big destination wedding in Hawaii with her husband’s family. The trip involves a crowd, and the original plan was for the kids to pair up and share rooms to keep costs down.

Things quickly went sideways thanks to nonstop complaints from her 12-year-old son Rory, who refused to room with his stepbrothers or cousins over “bad smells.” In the end, she convinced her husband to spring for an extra room so Rory could stay alone. Now her 12-year-old daughter Emily is furious, calling it totally unfair that her brother gets privacy while she has to bunk with an unfamiliar cousin.

‘AITA for giving my son his own hotel room but making my daughter share with a cousin she doesn’t know?’

The situation stems from a blended family setup after the mom’s second marriage:

When the husband’s sister planned a huge Hawaii wedding, the room arrangements hit a snag fast because of Rory:

The mom is unintentionally fueling clear favoritism by giving in to her son’s every demand, even over childish reasons like “bad smells.” Paying extra for his solo room doesn’t fix the root issue—it just rewards manipulative behavior, teaching Rory that complaining gets results.

Daughter Emily’s reaction makes total sense: she sees the unfairness in her brother getting special treatment simply for kicking up a fuss, while she’s expected to deal with it quietly. This could cause lasting resentment, making her feel overlooked and teaching her to stay silent.

Child psychology expert Dr. Laura Markham (author of Aha! Parenting) notes: “When parents give in to tantrums or complaints, kids learn manipulation works better than cooperation. Fairness between siblings builds trust and security.” Here, the handling is showing Rory he’s extra special.

The family needs firm rules from the start: all kids share as planned. If Rory refuses, natural consequences kick in—like rooming with parents. Talk to Emily separately, validating her feelings so she doesn’t feel less loved.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Pretty much everyone online called out the mom for poor parenting, focusing on how she’s spoiling her son while sidelining her daughter.

Loads of comments slammed rewarding bad behavior and punishing the compliant kid:

Others stressed stepping up as a parent instead of letting a 12-year-old run things:

Some dug deeper into Rory’s issues and offered alternatives:

Other reactions:

Clearly, the mom took the path of least resistance by indulging her son’s demands, but it created blatant unfairness toward her daughter. Emily isn’t being petty—she’s responding to obvious favoritism.

The bigger issue is the lack of boundaries for Rory, which could spell trouble long-term in this blended family. What do you think—any way to salvage the trip while teaching responsibility, or is it too late to switch plans? Share your take below!